The Guardian Examines New Reports On Nutrition Spending

May 01, 2013

The Guardian examines two new reports on nutrition spending. “Ambitions to eradicate world hunger will not be realized if aid for basic nutrition remains at only 0.4 percent of total official development assistance (ODA), according to the research group Development Initiatives (DI),” the newspaper writes. “Even though nutrition aid is rising, it remains far below what is needed, the DI report says,” The Guardian notes, adding, “The World Bank estimated in 2010 that an increase of $10.3 billion in annual resources would end undernutrition. But since these estimates, basic ODA for nutrition has increased by only $139 million (£90 million), according to DI.” The newspaper continues, “The research group acknowledges, however, the difficulty in identifying aid for nutrition,” as “[p]rograms in health, agriculture or education can have an important impact on nutrition, but the nutrition components are hard to identify and measure.”

“A separate report from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) think tank stressed the importance of smallholder agriculture in improving food security and reducing undernutrition,” according to The Guardian. “The report said empowering female farmers through legislation on rights and education, promoting home gardens and small-scale livestock rearing, and complementary programs in health, water and sanitation would improve the lives of smallholder farmers,” the newspaper writes. “Steve Wiggins, co-author of the report, emphasized the importance of the public sector,” the newspaper notes (Tran, 5/1).